ACAMH0PTERYGI1. 359 



The coryphana aurata (equisetis, L.) in agility, voracity, 

 and habits, resembles the last. It is found in a great number 

 of warm and temperate seas. It swims with extreme ra- 

 pidity, and as it were by bounds. The flesh, though dry, is 

 of an agreeable flavour. 



The coryphmia chrymrus belongs to the South and Indian 

 Seas. It is a very handsome fish, and was observed in 1768, 

 in the Great Equatorial Ocean by Commerson, who then 

 accompanied Bougainville. This naturalist relates that the 

 stomach of an individual which he opened contained 

 abundance of small fish. When the sailors had taken one 

 they attached it to a cord, and drew it along as if it had 

 been swimming on the surface of the sea. By this means 

 they assembled a great number of other fishes of the same 

 species, and could easily pierce them with a harpoon. 



Of the tribe of Theutyes, the Siganus, or Ampha- 

 canthtjs, has been named by M. Cuvier, from an Arab word 

 sidjan, inhabits the Red Sea, where it appears to live on 

 zosterae and marine plants. Its flesh is of an agreeable 

 flavour. The wounds inflicted by the spines of its fins 

 are dangerous. The Arabs think, that used externally, its 

 fat possesses the property of assuaging the pains of the 

 gout. 



We insert a figure of a siganus in the British Museum, 

 which is of a uniform olive brown colour. 



Acanthtjrus is a genus established by Bloch, and after- 

 wards adopted by Lacepede. The word derived from the 

 Greek indicates the prickles which these fishes have on the 

 side of the tail. The Acani hums chirurgus inhabits the sea 

 of the Antilles, where it is greatly in request in consequence 

 of its fine flavour. It has received the name of surgeon, for 

 the reason mentioned in the text. 



The genus Nasetjs was first established by Commerson, 

 and has since been adopted by the majority of ichthyologists. 



